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The Federal Aviation Administration plans to launch a review of the Dreamliner 787's electrical system. Boeing spokesman Marc Birtel said, "We are absolutely confident in the reliability and performance of the 787." The aircraft is limited to flying routes of 180 minutes or shorter.

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Boeing test pilots tried out an Ethiopian Airlines Dreamliner for the first time since it caught on fire last summer, and the aerospace company is optimistic that the repaired jet soon will be carrying passengers once again. The 787's emergency locator system caught fire in July at London's Heathrow Airport.

Boeing is expressing confidence in the Federal Aviation Administration's certification for the Dreamliner 787. "With this airplane, the FAA conducted its most robust certification process ever," said Boeing spokesman Marc Birtel.

The Federal Aviation Administration and Boeing are studying the batteries manufactured by a Japanese firm, GS Yuasa Corp., that are an issue on the Dreamliner. "We are confident in the regulatory process that has been applied to the 787 since its design inception," said Boeing spokesman Marc Birtel.

The Federal Aviation Administration has issued preliminary separation rules for Boeing's Dreamliner, requiring aircraft landing in the 787's wake to stay at least 10 miles back. In flight, planes cruising at the same altitude as a 787 must remain at least five miles back. The rules, which also apply to the new 747-8 jumbo jet, require up to twice the separation of other aircraft models, presenting a potential challenge at busy airports. The rules might be relaxed once test flights are complete, but are expected to be enforced through October 2011.

Boeing on Wednesday said problems with the 787's braking system is using up time the company had designated for any delays. Boeing 787 Managing Director Patrick Shanahan made the remarks at the Farnborough International Airshow. "It's not a functionality issue, it's a certification issue," Shanahan said. General Electric is handling the problem and rewriting the software for verification.